Rip Her to Shreds

Top: DIY Pants: Forever 21 Necklace: Forever 21 Shoes: Irregular Choice VIA Topshop (old!)

As I mentioned previously I've been on a DIY kick lately and this was the very first project I worked on. It's just a men's t-shirt with the back hem cut off and shredded to bits. Now I will say this is a very simple look to create, but quick it is not. I would say that all things considered this one top took about 6 hours to complete. That said, a smaller top would likely take less time, but I was going for a dramatic effect. 

I really do love the deconstructed look and the end result is exactly what I had been hoping for when I started the process. The final product is a bit delicate and should be handled accordingly (hand washing is a MUST!) it can also be a bit tricky to wear for this same reason. 

I love the way it paired with the bright colors in the pants and the accessories, and I think keeping the cami underneath nude was also the right choice. I did initially pair this with a belt but I thought the effect was better letting the shirt hang. The webby-ness (that's a word right?)of if is so neat for summer and a great way of doing see through with a more interesting texture. When the weather is hotter I can see wearing this as a beach cover-up or maybe even just with shorts leaving the back as is.

What do you guys think of a good DIY? Have you ever tried anything like this.

xoxo 

Molly

NOTD: Ombre!

I had tried an ombre nail look a while ago with some of my green shades, but something about it just wound up looking off. Last week after a small nail polish shop I wound up with Essie's Haute as Hello and Essie's A Crewed Interest, which are basically shades of the same color. This got me to thinking that a coral ombre might work out, and work out it did.

L-R Essie: A Crewed Interest Essie:Haute as Hello Models Own: Fuzzy Peach Revlon:Siren OPI: Red Lights Ahead...Where

I really liked the way it came out and it's a nice alternative to actual nail art for a lazy Sunday paint job. The best part is if you don't have 5 colors that work like this(I have a problem!) all you need it a middle color and some black and white polish for mixing!

Is this something you guys would ever try? Have you already?

xoxo

Molly

Obsessed: Nail Decals

Seriously these things are so much fun.  One of the blogs I follow VIXPO (link!) posted about DIY Chanel nails using decals she had found on eBay for 1.99. I wasn't too keen on the designer logo decal but I headed over to the US eBay site to see if I could find anything similar. What I cam across was nail art heaven. Lucky Star Style Nail Decals is a whole eBay shop dedicated to the pursuit of all things nail decals. (link!)

I ordered 5 sets of 20 for $1.99 each. The shipping is free and she offers them in an adult size and a child size. As someone with ridiculously small nails the child size fits me perfectly. The larger size is 3/8" and the child is 1/4", so if you're not sure which would work for you just hold a ruler up to your nail (like I did :)) They apply just like a good old fashioned temporary tattoo, you know like when you were a kid.

There are two things that are important to remember when applying though. If any of the decals you're using have any white in them then that will show up clear when applied to the nail. This makes light base colors a must. However, if you do have any decals that are all black, they can be applies over almost any color. Secondly, you MUST wait for your polish to dry completely before you try applying the decal, if you don't you'll dent the polish while applying the design.  For most people this is not that big a deal, but I literally have to make a "Paint Dry" playlist to sit through or I get impatient and try to apply it before my color is dry. (so impatient!)

They come individually packaged in little ziploc bags in four strips of 5 with instructions. 

Essie: Navigate Her

Models Own: Utopia

Have you guys found anything good on eBay lately? I want to know!(Especially if it's nail related!)

xoxo

What a Mouthfull

I went into Rite Aid the other day looking for the new Escapism summer collection (hello cream blush!). I was disappointed not to find it especially because Revlon is 40% off this week. I did however come across the brand spankin' new and untouched display of these babies.

 This is the new, are you ready for it, Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain. Seriously what needs a name that long? Cumbersome name aside this is a fantastic drugstore product.

Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain $6-$9 at Drugstores

Modeled after the Tarte Lipsurgence pencils and the Clinique Chubby Sticks these provide a nice wash of color with a sheer jelly-like finish. I think these are the texture a lot of people were thinking of when the Lip Butters hit the scene. They are incredibly balmy and leave a really natural looking texture on the lips. The balm feeling sticks around for 4-5 hours on me and actually seems to moisturize my lips. The best part though is that once the balm has gone the product leaves behind an even wash of the color.

You do get 0.005 fewer grams of product in this version versus the more high end Tarte and Clinique couterparts, but for the significant price decrease I'm not especially concerned with the marginal size difference. I have also heard (but cannot personally confirm) that this incarnation of the product is more pigmented than its pricey-er cousins. It does however share the minty smell and taste of the higher end products.

I love these I think they are a perfect low maintenance summer lip product. The lid stays secure if you plan on carrying these in your bag and the product twists up so no sharpening required and no product waste. I enjoyed this so much that I even went out the very next day and got another color, and I'm thinking I might even get a couple more while they are on sale this week. I also believe these are new products so if you don't see them yet they will eventually become part of the permanent display.

Have you guys gotten excited about anything new lately?

xoxo

Style Dipped

I wanted to quickly show you the outfit I put together around my new DIY dip-dyed tank.

I paired the tank with some simple black leggings and a blazer to give it some shape.  I also popped one of my favorite accessories on the jacket.

I bought this pocket watch on my first trip to Paris at the Marches aux Puces. Hands down my favorite outdoor market in all of my travels and one of my favorite finds. I had stopped wearing it for a while because the battery needed to be replaced ( and still does), but then I decided I didn't care. I think its a neat masculine detail done in a really feminine way and adds a nice touch of polish to a casual daytime or nighttime look.

Have you guys dug out any old favorite items lately?

xoxo

Molly

How To: Dipped

I have been on a huge DIY kick lately.  The first thing I knew I wanted to do was a simple dip-dyed T-shirt. If you have any interest in livening up some of your wardrobe there could not be a less expensive or easier way to do so. RIT dye costs on average a whopping $2.50 and can be used on any light or white clothing items. Faced with the tremendous color selection I went with an ever-so-trendy (and quickly becoming tiresome) Sunshine Orange. I figured this would be a nice way to start some simple DIY posts that you guys could try yourself.

I also popped to Wal-Mart for a 3 pack of white men's undershirts. I wanted to go the oversized route so the men's section was a perfect choice for me. You can choose a more fitted option or if there are items in your wardrobe already you wanted to spruce up then there is no need to buy anything new.

Step 1: Measure out and mark off spaces at about 1-2 inches apart along the side seams of the shirt. (or shorts or jacket or whatever it is you're dyeing)

I chose 1" sections because I wanted the gradient to be subtle and not to look like stripes of color. In retrospect I think you can achieve this with larger sections. I would go with 2" sections next time.

Step 2: Soak the shirt in plain warm water. If the fabric is wet prior to meeting the dye you get a better gradient where the dyed section meets the un-dyed section.

Step 3: Add salt and dye to VERY HOT water. I used the hottest water I could get from the tap and a kettle full of boiling water. (because I was using a plastic bucket I didn't want to use all kettle water because I was afraid the plastic would melt)

Read the directions carefully; it will tell you how much salt you should add to your dye solution. For synthetic fabrics (anything not cotton or wool) it will usually suggest you add white vinegar.

Step 4: Submerge your item into the dye solution all the way up to the top mark you placed when you measured them out in step 1.  I chose to pull the top part out of the dye immediately to create a really soft, light shade of orange at the very top of the dip dye. From there I moved the shirt out of the solution 1" at a time after soaking each section for 2-5 minutes. Repeat this step until you reach the hem of the shirt.

I even poured a bit of kettle water down over the top of the dip dye to make sure the fade was smooth. I think it helped a bit but it seems to me you could skip the step if you wanted to.

Step 5: Remove the shirt from the solution and rinse out the excess dye until the water runs clear.

This part is going to require a little patience as it does take a while for the water to run completely clear. You also want to be careful not to hit the undyed portion of the shirt with the dyed part because the color WILL TRANSFER.

Step 5: Hang your newly dyed shirt to dry completely.

I will say that I think that I should have let the bottom soak in the solution a bit longer as I don't think the hem came out quite dark enough. I do have plans to try out another dip dye soon so once I figure it out I'll be sure to give you a peek of how it turns out. I also didn't stop the DIY here. I went back and cut the sleeves off this to give it more of a muscle tee look. I love it with a cami or a bandeau underneath for summer. I also have a post coming up to show you how I wound up styling the finished piece.

Have you guys tried and clothing DIY's lately?

xoxo

Molly

Bonded

As a complete a total nail polish junkie it shouldn't be too big a surprise that I go through a fair amount of topcoat and basecoat. The topcoat I've got figured out. It's Seche Vite all the way. Anything else and the polish chips, and takes forever to dry. Basecoat on the other hand, is something that constantly changes. I've tried Revlon, CND, Essie and now Orly.

Orly Bonder Basecat

For a bit of background, my nails are complete shit. To begin with they were not in very good shape but since these nail polish shenanigans began the situation has only gotten worse. They are prone to flaking, peeling, and breaking quite easily which is why my polish chips so badly without the proper tools. I generally look for nail bases that are geared toward helping to repair the damage but I had heard so many great things about Orly's Bonder basecoat I felt like I needed to give it a try.

The basecoat itself is rubberized, so even when it dries it maintains this sticky rubber cement type quality. You can almost feel the polish adhering to the base when you go to apply the first coat. I have never found anything that keeps my polish on longer. The only thing that makes my polish chip when I wear this is when my nails get too long, the polish grows out, and my nails break. If you are blessed with healthy nails I don't think I could recommend this enough. At 7$ a bottle I would say its about average price-wise for a salon brand basecoat and worth every penny.

On my sorry ass nails though I think I'm going to have to look into something with some more strengthening properties. Next on my list of to-trys is OPI Nail Envy. From what I heard for those of us whose nails are in particularly rough shape Nail Envy is the treatment to turn to.

What are some of your basecoat recommendations?

xoxo

Molly